Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton torched district judge Eric Moyé for “abusing his authority” by jailing Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther for seven days because she didn’t want to apologize to him for reopening her shop so she could feed her children.
Paxton called for the “immediate release” of Luther, the owner of Salon A La Mode in Dallas. He spotlighted the alarming hypocrisy and injustice in jailing a mom for wanting to feed her kids while child molesters and rapists are being released from prison.
“I find it outrageous and out of touch that during this national pandemic, a judge — in a county that actually released hardened criminals for fear of contracting COVID-19 — would jail a mother for operating her hair salon in an attempt to put food on her family’s table,” Paxton said in a sternly-worded letter.
Paxton continued: “The trial judge did not need to lock up Shelley Luther. His order is a shameful abuse of judicial discretion, which seems like another political stunt in Dallas. He should release Ms. Luther immediately.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott agreed with Attorney General Ken Paxton, saying Judge Moye crossed the line with his vindictive sentencing.
In a statement, Governor Abbott also called for Luther’s release from jail: “I join the Attorney General in disagreeing with the excessive action by the Dallas Judge, putting Shelley Luther in jail for seven days. Jailing Texans for non-compliance with executive orders should always be the last available option.”
As BizPac Review reported, Democratic civil district court Judge Eric Moyé demanded that Luther do the following or he’d throw her in jail:
- Apologize for “being selfish” for keeping her shop open.
- Shut down until Friday (May 8).
- Pay a fine.
Luther replied by saying she’s not selfish for wanting to feed her two daughters, so she took the jail time instead of bending the knee to Moyé.
Judge says apologize for being ‘selfish’ or go to jail: Backlash builds as Dallas salon owner is sentenced https://t.co/1V3vcsURDX pic.twitter.com/HqCZVGcawX
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) May 6, 2020
Judge Moye wanted Shelley Luther to grovel like the Idaho mom who was arrested for taking her children to a playground.
Idaho mom arrested for refusing to leave playground makes tearful apology https://t.co/tzenkEd3TC pic.twitter.com/SrLsPA8wRE
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) April 27, 2020
In court, Luther said she and her 18 employees have no source of income if her shop remains closed. Shelley closed her hair salon in March amid Texas shutdowns, but reopened it in late-April.
“I have no choice,” Luther told Judge Moye. “I need to feed my family. I have to disagree with you, sir, when you say that I’m selfish because feeding my kids is not selfish.”
Judge Moye has ignited a volcanic backlash. Why? Because Texas is allowing hair salons to reopen on May 8, so the jail sentence was nothing more than vindictive power-tripping.
Moyé is up for re-election on November 3. Many Texans vow to vote him out after his shameless and petty abuse of power.
https://twitter.com/KTHopkins/status/1257959602211225601
By the way, Judge Moyé has a history of violence.
Judge Who Locked Up Dallas Salon Owner Has a History w/ Workplace Violence https://t.co/b9sK3LgI3D
— Edward Schechterman (@schechterman) May 7, 2020
Luther’s attorney, Warren Norred, said they will appeal the decision.
Norred said: “Moye actually said, ‘I want you to apologize for being selfish.’ This emergency has exposed all the tiny tyrants for who they are. We can say that we understand that the virus is serious without saying, ‘We’re all going to be walking dead zombies next month!’ We can do what is reasonable.”
Luther was exercising proper safety precautions at her shop, including taking customers’ temperatures and giving them masks upon entry.
(Source: Fox News)
Carlson replied: “I have a feeling if she was here illegally from another country, there would be zero chance that she would be in jail right now.”
Norred said Judge Moye is drunk on power. “She has to bend the knee. That’s what he wants,” Norred said.
UPDATE #1: Texas Governor Greg Abbott is “eliminating jail for violating an order, retroactive to April 2, superseding local orders.”
Throwing Texans in jail whose biz's shut down through no fault of their own is wrong.
I am eliminating jail for violating an order, retroactive to April 2, superseding local orders.
Criminals shouldn’t be released to prevent COVID-19 just to put business owners in their place.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 7, 2020
UPDATE #2: Shelley Luther was released from jail.
Seattle cop urges police not to trample Constitutional rights to enforce ‘tyrannical’ lockdowns
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Samantha Chang is a senior staff writer for BizPac Review. She is a financial editor and lawyer based in New York City.
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